Device for detecting unsafe condition of bridges



Sept. 1, 1953 J. B. BEAR 2,650,560

DEVICE EOE` DETEOIING UNSAEE CONDITION OE BRIDGES Filed Aug. 2'?, 1951 23 Sheets-Sheet 1 Joseph Bai/ey Bear INVENTOR. A

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Sept. 1, 1953 Y J. B. BEAR 2,650,560

DEVICE FOR DETECTING UNSAFE CONDITION OF BRIDGES Filed Aug. 27, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 losgph Bai/ey Bear INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. l, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE Foa DETECTING UNsAFE coNmTIoN oF BRIDGES Joseph Bailey Bear, Denison, Tex. e Application August 27, 1951, Serial No.`243,856 Y 4 Claims. (Cl. 116-114) l This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety devices and the primary object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting unsafe condition of a bridge,

andV thereby preventing userof the bridge when the sameis not in proper usable condition.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a signal iactutaor that will be operatively connected to a suitable signal device to be activated in response to relative movement between a bridge cap and supporting pile, whereby an unsafe condition of the bridge may be readily and conveniently indicated at a point close to or remote from the bridge.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting unsafe condition of a bridge that is quickly and readily attached to a bridge without in anyway harmfully affecting the bridge and which will occupy very little space on the bridge.

A still further :aim of the present invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned character that is extremely simple and practical in construction; strong, reliable in use, eiilcient and durable in operation, small and compact in structure, inexpensive to manufacture and install, and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the present invention installed on a bridge and operatively connected to a conventional signal operator;

Figure 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is ya plan view of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the actuating arm moved to a position for activating the signal operator in response to relative movement between the bridge cap and pile and,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuit used in conjunction with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral I0 represents a bracket composed of a U-shaped tubular member I2 having attened ends I4 that are iixed to one face of a bridge cap C by fasteners I 6. A tubular brace arm 'I8 is iixed by welding or the like to the web portion of the memberv I2 and extends upwardly therefrom. The upper flattened end`20 ofthe arm I8 is secured to the opposite face of the cap or plate 3 from the ends I4, by fasteners 22.

' An lupper horizontal pivot or pin `24 is fixed by weldingor the like to the web portion of the U-shaped member l2 and extended through a transverse aperture 28 in an intermediate portion of a tubular signal actuating bar 28, to` permit vertical swinging movement of the bar 28 and sliding movement of bar 23. A cotter pin 30 extends through a hole in the outer end of the pivot 24 to limit sliding movement of the bar 28.

A horizontal arm or fulcrum member 32 is iixed to the supporting pile P by a fastener 34 and the outer end of the member 32 supports a lower horizontal pivot or pin 36 that extends through the lower eye end 38 of bar 28.

A well known, suitable, signal operator 40 is mounted on the cap C and includes a crank portion 42 which when rotated in one direction will complete a circuit to a suitable signal B, sound or visual, disposed adjacent to and/or remote from the bridge. The outer extremity of the crank portion 42 extends through a slot or opening 44 in the upper fiat end 46 of the bar 28.

In practical use of the present invention, relative movement between the cap C and pile P, as shown in Figure 4 at M, will impart swinging motion to the bar 28 and the upper end of the bar 28 being slidably connected to the crank portion 42 will swing or rotate the latter sufliciently to permit actuation of a signal device operatively connected to signal operator 40.

Obviously, the signal operator 40 may assume the form of a complete signal unit whereby operation of crank portion 42 will sound an alarm or energize a lamp to inform approaching trains or the like that the bridge is unsafe.

Having described the invention, what claimed as new is:

1. In a bridge structure including a cap and a supporting pile for the cap, a device for indicating relative movement between the cap and the pile, said device comprising a bracket secured to and held stationary with respect to the cap, a signal actuator bar mounted for vertical swinging movement on the bracket, a signal device operatively connected to the bar, and means pivotally connecting the lower end of the 'bar to the pile, whereby relative movement between the pile and cap will impart swinging motion to the 3 bar and cause the latter to actuate the signal device to which it is connected.

2. In a bridge structure including a cap and a supporting pile for the cap, a signal operator supported on the cap and having a crank portion that is rotated in one direction in order to activate a signal device, an actuating means for the crank which is activated in response to relative movement between the cap and pile, said actuating means comprising a bracket secured to and depending from the cap, a horizontal pivot carried by the bracket beneath the signal operator, and actuating bar pivotally mounted onsaid pivot and having upper and lower ends extending, respectively, above and below said pivot, the A.

tured' at its lower end and adapted to be pivoted 75 to a pile, whereby relative movement between the parts of a bridge supporting the bracket and engaged with the lower end of the arm will impart swinging motion to the arm, and a signal operatively connected to the upper end of the arm and actuated in response to swinging of the arm.

4. In a bridge having a cap and a pile, a device for detecting unsafe condition of the bridge, said device comprising a U-shaped bracket having its ends secured to the cap, a brace arm forming part of the bracket and alsol secured to the capA to hold the bracket stationary with respect to the cap, an upper horizontal pivot fixed to the bracket well beneath the cap, a signal actuating bar swingably mounted on said pivot and having a lower end pivoted to the pile, and a signal operator operatively connected to said bar, whereby: relative movement between the cap and pile Will cause swinging of the bar in order to actuate the signal operator engaged by the bar.

JOSEPH BAILEY BEAR.

References Cited, in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

